Homework Study

During the first Homework Committee meeting (February 28, 2023 from 5-6:30 p.m.), committee members introduced themselves, and listened to an overview of past homework committees, the purpose of the current study, and the plan to share findings and recommendations with the School Board Curriculum Committee. Meeting norms were reviewed. Committee members moved into small groups to read articles about homework in K-12 schools and discuss the issues and recommendations presented in those articles.

During the second Homework Committee meeting on March 15, 2023, committee members reviewed a summary of the homework articles they read at the first meeting. They then met in small groups to read RTSD’s current homework policy and administrative regulation, and discuss the strengths and areas that should be improved. Each group presented a summary of their discussion. Students, teachers, and parents will have the opportunity to share their experiences with homework through surveys that will be administered this month.

The RTSD Homework Committee held a meeting on April 12, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

During the third Homework Committee meeting, committee members were presented with a summary of the feedback they provided about RTSD’s homework policy and administrative regulation at the previous meeting. Information about the RTSD surveys that were administered in March, and comparison data from the 2019 homework survey was shared. The committee members then met in K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 groups to review the responses from the student, teacher, and parent homework surveys, and discuss their thoughts about implications for RTSD’s homework policy and practices. A summary of the themes from the open-ended survey responses was shared.

The RTSD Homework Committee held a meeting on April 26, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

During the fourth Homework Committee meeting, data from the surveys of students, teachers, and parents by grade-band was reviewed. Implications for RTSD’s homework policy and practices were shared. The committee members then met in mixed-role groups to review homework policies and ARs from other school districts and identify recommendations for RTSD’s homework policy/AR. Each group presented a summary of their discussion to the whole group.

The RTSD Homework Committee held a meeting on May 10, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

During the final Homework Committee meeting, committee members reviewed a draft summary of the findings and recommendations from the homework study. Each group shared highlights of their discussion with the whole group. Committee members also completed a survey to provide feedback about their experience serving on the homework committee. Dr. Kearney and Dr. Wiedlich thanked the committee members for their time and thoughtful contributions.

Dr. Kearney and Dr. Wiedlich provided an update the School Board Curriculum Committee on the process, findings, and recommendations of the 2022-2023 Homework Study. The video of the presentation is available here (starting around minute 33:30) and the PowerPoint is available here.

The RTSD Homework Committee held a meeting on December 12, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed a draft of a revised Homework Policy and Administrative Regulations (AR). The committee members then discussed what they thought were the strengths of the draft and any suggestions for improvement. The RTSD School Board Policy Committee will likely begin reviewing possible revisions to Policy 130 and accompanying AR in the new year.

The draft policy and administrative regulation (AR) was presented to the Board Policy Committee on January 9, 2024. The policy and AR were shared as a discussion agenda item with the goal of presenting the policy and AR for a first read review and approval by the committee at their February meeting.

• Presentation
• Committee Meeting Video

The RTSD School Board approved the revised homework policy at the Board Business Meeting. This marks the culmination of extensive collaboration and deliberation within the homework committee, and input from various stakeholders. The new homework policy and accompanying Administrative Regulations (AR) are set to be implemented at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.